Church History

                                                              Our church has a very rich history and unique tradition and heritage, that could be fathomed to the year AD 409. This was the time around which the early Christian migrants from Kodungalloor and Parur started settling at Angamaly. Concrete evidence to establish the founding of the church is not, unfortunately, available. Historical data and logical conclusions lead us to the fact that this was the first church to be founded in Angamaly. There are evidences to prove that a church with thatched roof was built by the early Christian settlers in the land donated to them by the Chief of ‘MANGATTU’ clan. He shifted the Hindu dwellers of this area to the other bank of the nearby river ANGADIKADAVU. This area is still known as ‘MANGATTUKARA’. The homes of the MANGATTU clan is located to be around our present church. Many stone carvings and other articles of archeological importance have been discovered from this area. Geological survey of India has some records about a stone with inspirations donated to our church by the ‘MANGATTU SWAROOPAM”. This ancient stone could be seen at the western entrance to the sacred tomb of Mar Kurilose Metropolitan, the first bishop of the Angamaly Bhadrasanam.

Madbaha (Main Altar), St:Mary's Church Angamaly.

                           St. Mary’s Church however is the first among the three ancient churches in Angamaly. The two churches now with the Roman Catholics are built in 456 AD – St.George’s Forane Church and in 1587 – St. Hormis Church. This shows that the first church built in Angamaly should be in the name of St. Mary, because the only saint out of the three known to early Christian settlers is St. Mary. St George and St. Hormis are only later entrants on the surface of the earth. We must also take into consideration the fact that the main deity of a church is never displaced by another one, though the building is renovated from time to time as the requirement arises. The present church is believed to be constructed early 17th century.

                                                 The mortal remains of  First Marthoma, Mar Geevarghese Archdecon of Paklomattom Family and that of the first bishop of Angamaly diocese, Ambat Mar Coorilos are all laid to eternal rest in this church. This church also has the rare opportunity to have the 'KHABARS' (tomb) of about 55 priests who served the church in the days of old.
    

   In the glorious past of our faith the church was the arena of many memorable historical events. This church was the headquarters of the early Marthoma Christians and the Christian Church in India that extended to the banks of river Sindhu in the north. St. Mary's Church was the abode of the bishops even before 16th century. A copy of the Bible written in hide-skin and more than a thousand years old was the treasured wealth of this church for centuries. This was presented to Claudiues Bukanan by Mar Dionosius senior in 1808. Now the Bible is kept in the Cambridge University Library, London. In the 'MEMRA' (Hymm) of  Yuakim . Mar Coorilos' Angamaly '  is described as - RESO NNUSO - meaning Angamaly the highest positioned.                         

                         St. Mary's church representatives were the first to express their opinions in any gathering of the Jacobite faith, in the days of old. It is history that the representatives of Angamaly St. Mary's Church were the first  to endorse their signatures in the documents of Mulanthuruthy Sinod convened by Patriarch Mar Peter III in 1876 as it used to be the tradition. 2000 representatives including priest and laymen from 102 churches participated in this Synod. But an interesting thing that goes on record is that no representative from Angamaly participated in the Udayamperoor Synod as it was against our faith - Fr. Bernard (Marthoma Christians pp. 16, 19).The vicar & Trustees and other representatives attended  the second historical mulanthuruthy sinod convened  by patriach Evas Zakha I on 27 th september 2004.It was in this synod that Polouse Mar Ahanasius(Valiya Thirumeni) was elevated and declared Saint .

                        At one time in history the combined Angamaly - Akaparambu churches had six priests serving the parish at a time.

                                   The age old painting inside the church is with natural materials. The painting depict Heaven and Hell on  either side of the wall. The two altars show the paintings of Gee Varghese Sahada and Behanan Sahada, the fight between David & Goliath,and  the Arc of Noah. The main alter has paintings from Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

              "Annedha Perunnal" in memory of all the elders and relatives, from about 35 nearby churches, who are laid to rest in the cemetery of the church, is on 15th November every year. This is an occasion of a come back to their parent church for the Jacobite Christians in the vast area from the banks of Periar to Chalakudy river. Kalady, the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya, Malayattoor where the Apostle St.Thomas stayed for some time, Nayathode the birth place of the Njanapetta Award winner  Mahakavi G. Sankara Kuruppu all were part of this parish till recently. The parishhad the 16th centuary celebrations in 2009 from January 14th.

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